Put long-awaited convention center upgrade on fast track
Categories: Front Page, In The News
hiWeek of June 18, 2009
Almost five years after voters funded a vital $55 million upgrade of the Miami Beach Convention Center, a county committee last week finally pushed it forward to a full commission vote.
The commission shouldn’t think twice about saying yes July 7. This economic development spending — unlike hundreds of millions about to be wasted on a baseball stadium — would actually multiply visitors and jobs.
Kudos to Rebeca Sosa for pushing an upgrade through the Recreation, Culture & Tourism Committee despite inexplicable heel-dragging by Bruno Barreiro, who represents Miami Beach. While it is a city amenity, Ms. Sosa is right on the mark in noting that “the convention center is not Miami Beach only. The convention center is Miami-Dade County.”
Mr. Barreiro hasn’t been alone in slowing an upgrade that’s key to besting competitors for top gatherings. Getting Miami Beach, the county and industry groups on the same page has been sticky for years.
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